If you are taking a position in the same company, only tell them good things. Resist the temptation to explain how you could have been handled better, or items that have frustrated you. Tell them you learned a lot and you appreciate the time people gave you. Explain how what you learned in the position helped you get a promotion.

If you are leaving the company, feel free to tell them the truth about why you are leaving. If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, you can offer some feedback on how to improve. But there really is no upside for you to offer feedback as you leave.

Giving feedback is as art. You have to have the right relationship to be able to give candid feedback on your way out.

If you are faced with an exit interview, just smile and tell them how much you enjoyed your job. You can never get yourself in trouble that way.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/exit-interview/feed/0The Candid Truth About Candorhttp://blog.leecockerell.com/candor/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/candor/#respondTue, 08 Aug 2017 05:00:48 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1646How candid are you with the people you care about?

Candor does not show up as often as it should. But you can’t have a healthy workplace without candor.

If you want someone to do well, you have to tell them the truth with empathy. This is what candor is all about – truth with empathy.

You shouldn’t tell truth if there is nothing in it for the other person.

You can get a reputation for being someone who tells the truth to help other people.

If you don’t tell someone the truth and they fail, it is your fault.

Begin today. Be candid.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/candor/feed/0Are You Willing to Take a Risk?http://blog.leecockerell.com/risk/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/risk/#respondTue, 01 Aug 2017 05:00:48 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1650

If you have been to Disney World, you may have enjoyed a great meal at the California Grill.

California Grill may seem like a standard at Disney World now, but it was a risk to get it off the ground.

To make the pitch to add a restaurant unlike anything else at Disney World, Dieter Hannig -a world-class chef – and I flew out to visit Michael Eisner and ask him for $6 Million dollars.

We go approval and it was a risk that paid off.

The risk paid off for me and for Disney. California Grill turned around food and beverage at Disney World.

Are you willing to take a big risk?

You have to be willing to put yourself on the line if you want to have a great career.

If you feel comfortable, you are not taking enough risk.

Risk can seem scary. Throughout my career, I managed risk by making sure I had a hand in the outcome.

Here are two ways you can manage risk;

1, Don’t be afraid to get experts around you. When you have consulted experts you will be prepared for any resistance you may get.

2. Don’t do things too fast. Take time to understand what you are doing. And give the emotions time to pass.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/risk/feed/0Introducing New Employees to Your Culturehttp://blog.leecockerell.com/introducing-new-employees-to-your-culture/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/introducing-new-employees-to-your-culture/#respondTue, 25 Jul 2017 05:00:43 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1647When you hire a new employee it can be difficult to introduce her to your company culture.

This week, I answer a listener question from someone who is concerned about properly training employees while building a culture of trust.

Clarity is the key to bringing new employees on board. Let them know up front what to expect, how often they will see you, and what will happen once they have demonstrated a full grasp of their tasks and responsibilities. Next, you have to take the time to make sure they know what they are doing.

Clarity and communication are so vital to build trust and get other people on board to what you are doing.

At Disney, we inject so much pixie dust into new cast members they can’t get it out. We begin with training and education so they understand we do things the way we do them.

You can get my Morning Magic Planner by entering your name and email below.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/introducing-new-employees-to-your-culture/feed/0Work Life Balance is a Mythhttp://blog.leecockerell.com/work-life-rhythm/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/work-life-rhythm/#respondTue, 18 Jul 2017 07:11:24 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1645Work Life balance is a myth. You only have one life and it includes work, family, and your personal life. You have to get all those elements in rhythm, not balance.

Here are three you can maintain the right rhythm in your life;

Say No to most things.

Understand and focus on the few things you need to work on.

Get experts around you.

It is critical you spend time in a way that brings an investment back on your time. Stop wasting time.

You are wasting time every day. I know you could find an extra hour each day. The question is, do you have the self-discipline to implement the changes you need to make?

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/work-life-rhythm/feed/0Why Don’t You Reach for a Great Life?http://blog.leecockerell.com/great-life/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/great-life/#commentsTue, 11 Jul 2017 05:00:45 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1642Do you have a great life? If not, why not? A great life is within your reach, but you have to decide you want a better life.

“What if” are words Lou Mongello did not want haunting him later in life. So he left his job as a lawyer in New Jersey and moved to Orlando to pursue a great life. Now, Lou is the host of the popular WDW Radio. Lou has a great life.

If you are young, go do what you love. Make mistakes. Get experience. Make money later in your life.

Fear today is not nearly as bad as regrets tomorrow.

Getting fired showed me there is not too much to be afraid of. If I can get fired from my job and still find a way to provide for my family, how bad can it be? Knowing this armed me with what I needed to take bigger risks.

In my entire career, I have only had a handful of days where I did not want to be there. Taking risks lead to a great career.

If you become complacent, you will not be successful. Do not settle. Failure comes when you quit.

Are you going to settle for a good life? Or, are you ready to have a great life?

Don’t underestimate what you can do with your life.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/great-life/feed/2What Was it Like to Open Disneyland Paris?http://blog.leecockerell.com/what-was-it-like-to-open-disneyland-paris/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/what-was-it-like-to-open-disneyland-paris/#respondTue, 04 Jul 2017 05:00:26 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1640Twenty-Five years ago Disneyland Paris opened. On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, I reflect on the experience of being involved in opening the park.

Lou Mongello, host of WDW Radio joins us to discuss Disneyland Paris and ask some tough questions about what it took to introduce the Disney culture to Europe.

In this episode, you will learn about my personal experience in Paris. And you will take away lessons you can apply in your life and business.

]]>http://blog.leecockerell.com/dealing-with-criticism/feed/1Continuous Improvement Should Be Part of Your Culturehttp://blog.leecockerell.com/continuous-improvement/
http://blog.leecockerell.com/continuous-improvement/#respondTue, 20 Jun 2017 08:29:30 +0000http://blog.leecockerell.com/?p=1633If you did not learn something new yesterday, you weren’t paying attention. Every day is a chance to get better.

To be successful, one of the most important traits is curiosity. If you are curious, you can improve every day.

Some companies adopt Six Sigma or Lean Thinking to get better. Disney adopted a culture of continuous improvement.

A listener wants to know how you can continue to focus on improvement without overlooking the great work and accomplishments people are doing every day. Quite simply, you involve everyone in your effort to improve.

If you include people who are on the front line doing the work they will buy-in, they will offer feedback, and help you improve.

Continuous improvement is part of the culture. If you get your culture right, everything else gets easier.